QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-7447

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

99.0249

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

1998:53.67

Object label:

Oak Leaf and Cherries
Mary Schafer
Flushing, Genesee County, Michigan
1969
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#1998:53.67

Essay:

Interpretative Commentary:
Mary created "Oak Leaf and Cherries" during her self-named "Challenge Period" when she became determined "to raise in popular esteem" the appreciation of quilts. Many of the quilts Mary made during this period were intended to honor important figures in history, especially women and those who played key roles in quilting history. To honor Rose Wilder Lane, author of American Needlework, Mary selected "Oak Leaf and Cherries," one of the patterns featured in Lane's book. The quilt was a perfect showcase for Mary's needlework skills; she stuffed the cherries, created an original quilting design, and added a unique appliqued border. -- Mary Worrall

Additional Commentary:
This quilt was chosen to tour with the American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum exhibit, January-December, 2003, Japan; and is featured in the exhibit's catalogue, American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum, page 115. It was illustrated in the publication, Mary Schafer and Her Quilts, page 22. It won the First Award at the Saginaw County Fair in 1971 and First Premium at the Michigan State Fair in 1972. -- Beth Donaldson

Quilt's title:

Oak Leaf and Cherries

Owner's name for the quilt:

Oak Leaf and Cherries

Biography of the quiltmaker?

See Mary Schafer and Her Quilts, by Gwen Marston and Joe Cunningham.

Quilt top made by:

Schafer, Mary Vida

Quilted by:

Schafer, Mary Vida

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Purchased the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Flushing

Where the quilt was made, county:

Genesee

Where the quilt was made, state:

Michigan (MI)

Time period:

1950-1975

When was the quilt finished?

1969

Why was the quilt made?

Teaching or learning sample

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's city:

Flushing

Quiltmaker's county:

Genesee

Quiltmaker's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Vida

Quiltmaker's birth date:

4/27/1910

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Urban

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

Born Austria-Hungary 1910; emigrated to USA 1914

Quiltmaker's educational background:

Her father made her quit high school at the age of 15 to work in his creamery.

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Bottle washer, book keeper, telephone operator, home maker.

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Vida, Josef

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:

Austria

Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:

Austrian

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Zelka, Julianna

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:

Austria

Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:

Austrian

Quiltmaker's marriage date(s):

June 22, 1934

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):

Schafer, Fred

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' ethnic/tribal background:

German

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:

Welder at Buick Motors

Number of children:

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

1

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Self-Taught

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 40-49

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Fundraising; Pleasure

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

more than 50

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

only informally

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

Genesee Star Quilters

Where does/did the group meet?

Flint, Michigan

What are the main activities of the group?

Raffle quilts, hospital quilts, many shows.

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

79

How long is the quilt?

88

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Green; Red; White

Overall color scheme:

Two color

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Signature

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Mary Schafer

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1969

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

12 applique, 6 alternate plain squares

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

On point or rotated on 45 degrees

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Alternating with plain squares

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

1

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

One appliqued border.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

3

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

less than a half inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How thick is the quilt?

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

4

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

5

Width between quilting lines:

1

Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?

no

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Grid diamond; Outline; Single parallel lines

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Feathering

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Parallel lines

Describe the quilting designs used:

Outline in the applique blocks, 1/8" away from the egde. Parallel lines forming diamond shape. Alternate blocks, feathered wreath and flower in the center. Corners parallel meeting and diamond shape with applique block quilting. Border outline applique, 1/8" away, parallel diagonal lines. Border triangles a variation of feathered fleur-di-lis. Corner triangle motif using cherries and part of fleur-di-lis.

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

Mary created ?Oak Leaf and Cherries? during her self-named ?Challenge Period? when she became determined ?to raise in popular esteem? the appreciation of quilts. Many of the quilts Mary made during this period were intended to honor important figures in history, especially women and those who played key roles in quilting history. To honor Rose Wilder Lane, author of American Needlework, Mary selected ?Oak Leaf and Cherries,? one of the patterns featured in Lane?s book. The quilt was a perfect showcase for Mary?s needlework skills; she stuffed the cherries, created an original quilting design, and added a unique appliquéd border.

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Commercial/Published source: Book

Commercial name of the pattern for the top:

Rose Wilder Lane

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

See Mary Schafer and Her Quilts by Gwen Marston and Joe Cunningham. Prizes, awards, ribbons, etc. Photos of quilter Interview with quilter Clippings or photocopies Audiotape Videotape

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt owner

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Details

• 

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, special occasion

Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on this quilt?

Original to maker

Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quiltmaker:

Hand work.

Who photographed this quilt?

Fumio Ichikawa

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees